Controlling apparatus for collieries



1927. Jan D. F. BROWN ET AL CONTROLLING APPARATUS FOR COLLIERIES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 25, 1925 \NVENTORaZ KIM ATTORNEY R QRN NQ r 1,613,786 Jan. 11 1927- D. F BROWN ET AL zly. 2.

E VENTORs:

fi lr v w W ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 11, 1927.

NlTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DONALD F. BROVJN AND FREDERICK J. EAYMER, "OF LONDON, ENGLAND, ASSIGNORS,

BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE UNION SWITCH & SIGNAL COMPANY, 'OF SWISS- VALE, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

CONTROLLING APPARATUS FOR COLLIERIES.

Application filed. September 23, 1925, Serial No. 58,103, and in Great Britain August 14, 1923.

the decking mechanism when the hoisting cage is conveying men, and another lever or levers for controllingthe decking mechanism when the cage is conveying material.

A further object of our invention is to interlock these separate levers so that the operation of any lever will prevent operation of any remaining lever which would cause unsafe functioning of the mechanism or cage while the first lever is in its operated position.

The present case is a continuation in part of our co-pending application, Serial No.

693,407, filed Feb. 16, 1924, for hoisting plant for collieries and the like, in so far as the subject matter common'to the two is concerned.

lVe will describe one form of controlling apparatus embodying our invention, and will then point out the novel features thereof in claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is a View, partly diagrammatic, showing the general arrangement of the decking mechanism located at the pit top. Fig. 2 is a View showing, in side elevation, a portion of the lever machine for controlling the apparatus illustrated in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a view showing, in rear elevation, the lever machine illustrated in Fig. 2. I

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts in each of the several views.

Referring first to Fig. 1 the reference character A designates a hoisting cage which is arranged to operate in the colliery'shaft between the pit top and the. pitbottom. The cage is driven by a motor M which is controlled by an engineman through means omitted from the drawing for the sake of simplicity.

As shown in the drawing the cage A is located at the pit top. In order to lock the cage in the position shown in the drawing, that is, with the deck A of the cage in line with the plant deck X at the pit top, a number of keps indicated at 13 are provided. These keps are arranged to be placed in position under the cage A, or to be withdrawn therefrom, by means of a pneumatically operated motorD operating the keps through the linkwork 14. The motor D comprises a cylinder 15 containing a reciprocable piston 16. This cylinder 15 is at times supplied with fluid pressure, usually air, through V electro-pneumatic valves E and F. 7

Referring particularly to valve E, this valve comprises a valve stem 17 carrying an armature 19. Associated with the armature 19 is a winding 18. When winding 18 is energized stem 17 is moved to the right and fluid pressure is then supplied from a suitable source not shown in the drawing through pipe 22, valve E and pipe 21 to cylinder 10 on the left-hand side of piston 16, driving this piston to the right. The piston is operatively connected with the linkwork 14 operating the keps 13, and when the piston is in its right-hand position the keps 18 are withdrawn out of engagement with the cage A. When Winding 18 of valve E in de-energized, valve stem 17 moves to the left under the influence of its spring, so that it disconnects pipe 21 from the supply fluid pressure and connects this pipe with atmosphere through port 20.

The construction of valve F is similar to thatof valve E and it will therefore be seen that when winding 18 of the valve F is energized fluid pressure is supplied from pipe 25 through valve F and pipe 2 1 to cylinder 15 of the motor D on the right-hand side of piston 16, thereby driving piston 16 to the left. This motion of the piston is transmitted to the keps 13 and moves the keps under the cage A, thereby locking the cage in its proper position at the plant deck. With the keps in this projected, or locking position, it is impossible for the engineman to lower the hoisting cage. henwinding 18 of the valve F is deenergized stem 17 returns to its left hand position and connects pipe 24 with atmosphere.

Associated with the keps 13 is a circuit controller designated by the reference character K. This circuit controller comprises a number of contacts which are controlled LII.)

in accordance with the positions occupied by the keps. When the keps are withdrawn, as shown in the drawing, contacts and 3636 are closed, but when the keps are projected into their locking positions the contacts just named are opened and contacts 3636 37 and 38 are closed.

ln addition to the locking mechanism for the cage, here illustrated by the keps 13, the controlling apparatus comprises material handling mechanism. For purposes of the present application we have illustrated this mechanisn'i as a ram R but the mechanism for handling material on the hoisting cage may be of a more elaborate nature, such for example the mechanism illustrated in United States Letters Patent No. 1 508,921, granted Sept. 16, 192%, to Frank M. Castle man, for loading and unloading gears for hoisting plants.

In the present application the ram R comprises an elongated cylinder d0 containing a piston 26 to which is attached a plunger 39. The lefthand end of the plunger 39 terminates in a ram head 31 outside of the cylinder 40. Fluid pressure is constantly supplied to cylinder 011 the left-hand side of piston 26 through pipe 27. Fluid pres sure is at times supplied also to this cylinder on the rightflhand side of the piston 26 through a valve G similar to valves E and F. hen winding 18 of this valve is deenergized the cylinder 40 on the right-hand side of piston 26 is connected with atmosphere through pipe 28, valve G, and port 29. The pressure on the lefthand side of piston 26 therefore moves the piston to the right carrying with it the plunger 39 and the ram head 31. When winding 18 of valve G is energized, however, fluid pressure is supplied from pipe 30, through valve G and pipe 28 to cylinder l0 on the righthand side of piston 26. The area on which this pressure is effective upon piston 26 is greater than the area upon which the pressure from pipe 27 is effective upon the lefthand side of this piston because of the )lunger 39 and the piston is therefore moved to the left carrying with it the plunger 39 and the ram head 31. The ram R is so located that when the ram head 31 is retracted, it is clear of the hoisting cage A, but that when this ram head is projected it extends into the cage A to push from this cage the tubs or cars which are customarily used to transport material in collieries.

Associated with the ram R is a circuit controller J comprising three contacts 32, 33

tcri a l.

an operator located at the pit top and usually designated as the banksman. Levers 1 and 2 are known as decking levers- The lever 1 controls the decking operation of the hoisting cage A when conveying ma- Lever 2 is pro ided in the lever machine for the control of decking mechanism not shown in the drawing but associated ith a second cage similar to cage A. which, in some collieries. is installed beside the cage A and operated on the same su 1j orting cable so that the two cages partially counterbalance each other.

Referring to Figs. 2 and 3.,

I the evers l are mounted in a frame 3 and each lever controls a locking segment and a plurality of contacts. (See Fig. 1.) In actual practice the locking segment will usually be controlled by the rod eland the contact mechanism by the rod The operatic these contacts and locking segments w .l he described in detail hereinafter. Mounted co-axi'ally with the levers 1 and 2 is the additional lever 6 which is interlocked with th .1

levers 1 and 2 by means of a tap et mecha nism. This mechanism comprises a pair of tappets 7 and 8 capable of horizontal movement within suitable guides in the upper portion of the frame 3, in such manner that when the additional lever 6 is moved from its normal position, in which it is illustrated in the drawing, to its reverse or operative position, the lever 6 displaces the tappets 7 and. 3 outwardly and causes them to engage with suitable notches or recesses 9 in the decking levers 1 and 2 so as to lock these levers in their normal or inoperative positions. 'Conversely, when either lever 1 or 2 is moved from its normal position to .-its reverse position the tappet 7 or 8 engages with a notch 10 in the lever 6 and prevents this leverirom being moved from its normal to its reverse position.

Associated with each lever of the machine is an electric lock designated by the retereuce character L with an exponent corre sponding to the associated lever. Referring particularly to the lock L, this lock comprises a pivoted operativcly connected with the lever 1 and arranged to be swung in a counter-clockwise direction wl n the lever 1 is moved from its normal position, in which it is illustrated in the drawing, to its reverse position. A locking dog 81, controlled by a magnet 83, is so disposed as to engage the edge of the segment 32 when magnet 83 is deenergized. It will be plain from the drawing that the lock I! does not interfere with motion of lever 1 from the normal to the reverse position; but that in order to return the lever to its normal position from its reverse position, magnet 83 of the lock L must be energized to lift the dog 81 clear of the shoulder 82 of segment 82. The remaining electric locks L and L Associated with each of the levers is a 6262 are closed and the normal contacts named above are open. The ren'iaining levers are provided with similar contacts.

In addition to the three levers 1, '6

and 2, the banksman has under his control a manually operable circuit controller Q. Contact 41*41, of this circuit controller is normally closed, but when the banksman operates the circuit controller, contact 4141 is opened and contact 41'41 is closed. We will explain the purpose of this circuit controller hereinafter.

The banksman is also provided with ablinder device H comprising a normally open push button which is includedin a circuit with a source of energy, such as a battery 46, and an indicator, here shown as an electric lamp 47 Lamp 47 is so located as to be visible to the engineman who operates the hoisting motor M. It follows, therefore, that by manipulation of the push button 45, the banksman can signal the engineman and can therefore direct the movements of the cage by communicating orders to the engineman through the medium of the lamp 47. Associated with push button 45 is a shield 42 provided with an upstanding magnetizable stem 43. The stem 43 is provided with a winding 44. When winding 44 is energized shield 42 is lifted upwardly so as to exposepush button 45. hen winding 44 is tie-energized, however, shield 42 drops under the influence of gravity, and covers push button 45. The banlrsman cannot, therefore, manipulate push button 45 to signal the engineman unless winding 44 is energized.

The valves 13,]? and G and the'winding 44 ot the blinder device iii are controlled by the levers 1, 6 and 2, as will now be explained. The circuit for valve E may be traced from terminal B of a suitable source of energy not shown inthe drawing, through'contact 4141 of circuit controller Q, Wire 51, contact 34 of circuit controller J, wire 52, normal contact 53 of lever 1, wire 54, normal contact 55 of lever 6, wire 56, and winding 18 of valve E to terminal 0 of the same source. Valve E is thereforeop'erated to,

withdraw the keps 13 only when levers 1 and 6 are in their normal positions and when the circuit controller Q, is released and the ram B is in its fully retracted position. Valve F, which when open, causes the keps lever 6 is reversed.

13 to-be projected into locking position, s provided with two circuits. One clrcuit passes from terminal B, through reverse contact 57 of lever 1, wires 58 and 59, and

winding 18 of valve F to terminal 0. This circuit is closed when lever 1 is reversed. Another circult may be traced from terminal B, through'reverse contact 60 of lever 6,

wires 61 and 59, and winding 18 of valve F to terminal C. This circuit is closed when It follows that valve F is open, and that the keps are therefore projected into their locking positions, when either of levers 1 or 6 is moved to its reverse position.

The ram controlling valve G is prov ded with a circuit which. maybe traced from terminal B through reverse contact 62-62 of lever 1, wire 63, contact 38 of circuit controller K, wire 64, and winding 18'of valve G to terminal 0. lVe have already explained that contact 38 is closed only when the keps are in their locking positions and it follows that winding 1.8 of valve G is energized only when lever 1 is reversed and when the lreps are actually in their locking positions. 7 7

When levers 1, 6 and 2 are all in their normal positions and when the keps are withdrawn and the ram is fully retracted,

.1, 6 and 2 are'in their normal positions and circuit controller Q is released. Valve E is therefore open, its circuit being complete over normal contacts of lever 1, and of lever 6. The keps are therefore withdrawn. Valve G is tie-energized, its circuit being open at contact 38 of circuit controller K and also at reverse contact -6262 of lever 1, now open. The ram is therefore in its fully retracted position and winding 44 of the blinder device H is energized.

In explaining the operation of the apparatus we will first assume, that the hoisting cage A is conveying material. hen the cage has reached the upper level in wh ch 1t 1s illustrated-in the'drawi 3's man reverses le er 1. lVinding 44 of device H is deenergized, its circuit being}; open at normal contact 62-62" of lever 1. 'The closing of reverse contact 57 ot lever 1 completes a circuit for magnet Ff Magnet E was tie-energized by the opening" of normal contact. 53 of lever 1 and so cylinder 15 on the left handside of piston 16 is new connected to atmosphere. The energization of valve F therefore drives piston 16 to the left and moves the keps 13 inwardly thereby locking the cage A at the plant deck. V In the keps in this loci-ring position contact 36 36" of circuit controller K is closed and current flows from terminal through contact 36-36. wire 76 and lamp 49 back to ter 'minal The lamp 49 therefore con:-.titutes an indicator which when lighted, informs the banlrsznan that the hops have actua moved. to their locking position. The ('lOS" ing of contact 38 of circuit control he also completes the circuit for winding 18 of valve Rani R is theretore operated to project ram head 31 to the left as seen in Fig. 1. This movement of the rain may be utilized, as already suggested, to remove colliery tubs from the cage A.

In order to restore the apparatus to its original condition. the banksinan must return lever 1 to its normal position. But in order to do this he must first energize maginet 83 of lock Ii This is accomplished by operating circuit controller Q, current then flowing from terminal B, through contact 41-4-1" of circuit controller Q, wire 71, con tact 37 of circuit controller K, wires 72, T and 71-, and magnet 83 of lock L, to terminal C. The energization of magnet lifts the locking dog 81 of lock L to disenshoulder 82 of segment 82. Lever 1 may then be restored to its normal position. The banlrsman may then release circuit controller The opening of reverse contact 6262 of lever 1 interrupts the circuit for the ram valve G which thereupon becomes dee-nergized and allows fluid pressure from pipe 27 to move piston 26 to the right and withdraw the ram head 31 from the cage A. When the ram has returned to its fully retracted position the consequent closing of contact 3% of circuit controller Q completes the circuit for valve E. Valve F isnow deenergized and so the energization of valve E actuates motor D to withdraw the keps 13. The resulting opening of contact 36-236" of circuit controllr K die-energizes lamp 49. The closing of contact 3?)36 of circuit controller l: completes a circuit tor lamp 48 from terminal B through contact 3636'-, wire 77. contact 33 of circuit controller 5. wire 78, lamp 4+8 and back to terminal C. The lamp 48 is lighted only when the ram ll is fully retracted and when the lreps are withdrawn from beneath the cage A. he lamp therefore indicates to the banlrsman that the apparatus is in such condition that the hoisting: cage may be lowered. The closing of contact of circuit controller K completes the circuit for winding 44 of hlinder device H and shield 42 is therefore lifted so that the hanksmau may operate push button 41f.

It should be noticed that the shield as of '3636 of circuit controller K.

device H is dropped as soon as lever 1 is moved from its normal position, and that the shield is lifted again only after the i'arious parts or the apparatus have been placed in a condition which make it safe for the hanlrsman to signal the engineman to lower the cage A. i

It the cage ii is conveying men instead of material, the operation is as follows: After the hoisting cage has reached its upper level the banirsmn reverses lever The opening of normal contact 66 oi? this lever de cner iizes the circuit for winding l-t or the bliuder device ll so that shielo of this device covers the push button The opening o1? nor 1 contact S5 of lever (S dee" winding 18 oi? valvelt. The closoi contact til oi? lever 6 energizes so that the motor D is actua to the hops 1 3 i F :0 their locking posi- ...on:'i. Current also flows from terminal B, through reverse contact 79 of lever 6, wire 80. lamp a l hack to terminal C. The lamp 50 therefore comprises an indicatorwhich informs the banl-rsnian that the apparatus is now being controlled for the conveying of men. The closing of contact 36-3-3 of circuit controller K due to theopcration of thekeps 13 completes the circuit for lamp 49 which indicates that the keps are locking the at the plant deck.

It will be noticed that when the decking mechanism is controlled by lever 6 the l-zeps are projected to lock the cage in its proper position in exactly the same manner as when the mechanism is controlled by lever 1., ant that the ram is not projected into the ca In order to return the lever 6 to its normal position the banlrsman operates circuit controller Q. Current then flows from terminal B, through contact t11 oi" circuit controller Q. wire 71. contact 3'? 0i circuit control er K and wires 72, T8 and 75 and magnet 83 of lock L to terminal C. The dog; 1 is therefore lifted so that lever 6 may he returned to its normal position the opening oi reverse contact 79 ot lever 6 de-energizing indicator 50. man then releases circuit controller Q. The opening of reverse contact of lever 6 tie-energizes valve F, and the closing or normal contact oi lever 6 energizes winding 18 of valve E. Motor D is therefore The hur sactuated' to withoraw the lteps from beneath.

the cage A. Lamp 49 is thereupon extinguished, its circuit being open at contact The closing of contact 35 of circuit controller To; also completes the circuit for winding id of blinder device l-l so that push button is now exposed to permit thebanlrsman to signal the engineman that conditions are sate for the cage to be lowered.

From the foregoing description of the tappet locking mechanism of Figs. 2 and 3, it

till

' lever 6. Similarly,when lever 6 is reversed 1 Zil under the cage.

the other isoperated.

to control the conveying of men, lever 1 is locked in its normal position. t is therefore impossible to project the ram into the cage when the cage is hoisting men.

Another feature of our invention is that after one of the levers 1 or 6 is moved to its reverse position, the electric lock L prevents the restoration of the lever to its normal position until the keps have been projected operate circuit controller Q, to release the lock for the lever and after the lever is restored to its normal position, the circuit controller Q, must be released in order to complete, at contact 4:141 thereon, the operating circuit for valve E by means of which the keps are withdrawn from the cage.

Although we have herein shown and described only one form of controlling apparatus for colleries embodying our invenion, it is understood that various changes and modifications may be made therein within the scope of the appended claims with out departing from the spirit and scope of our invention.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim is:

1. Controlling apparatus 'for colleries comprising a hoisting cage, decking mechanism co-operating with said cage, a first lever for controlling said'decking mechanism when the hoisting cage is conveying material, and a second lever mechanically interlocked with said first lever for controlling said decking mechanism when the hoisting cage is conveying men.

2. Controlling apparatus for colleries comprising a hoisting cage, decking mechanism co-operating with said cage, a first lever for controlling said decking mecha nism when the hoist is conveying material, a second lever for controlling a portion only of said decking mechanism when said hoist is conveying men, and a lock for preventing operation of either of said levers when 3. In combination, a hoisting cage, decking mechanism co-operating with said cage, two lovers each having a normal position and each arranged when. moved to its reverse position to actuate a different portion of said decking mechanism and a lock for preventing movement or either of said levers when the other is in its reverse position.

a. Controlling apparatus for colleries comprising a hoisting cage for conveying material and men, material handling mechanism co-operating with said cage, a first lever for controlling said material handling mechanism, a second lever, mechanism controlled by said second lever for locking said The banksman must then cage in posit-ion, and a lock for preventing operation of either ofsaid levers when the other is operated.

5. Controlling apparatus for colleries comprising a hoisting cage, a first lever and a second lever each having a normal and a reverse position, material handling mechanism arranged to be actuated when one of said levers is moved to its reverse position, cage locking mechanism arranged to be operated when the other said lever is moved to its reverse position, and a lock for preventing movement of either lever to is reverse position unless the other lever occupies its normal position.

6. Controlling apparatus for collieries comprising a hoisting cage for conveying men and material at different times, decking mechanism associated with said cage, a first lever for controlling said decking mechanism when said cage is conveying men and arranged when operated to lock said cage in position, a second lever for controlling said decking mechanism when the cage is conveying material and arranged to move material in the cage, said levers being interlocked so that only one lever can be operated at a time.

7. Controlling apparatus for collieries comprising a hoisting cage, a lever having normal and reverse positions, means efi'ec tive only when said lever is in the reverse position for locking said cage at the plant deck, and means for preventing return motion of said lever to its full normal position unless said cage is actually looked at the plant deck.

8. Controlling apparatus for collieries comprising a hoisting cage, a lever having normal and reverse positions, an electric lock arranged when tie-energized to prevent movement of said lever to its full normal position, means effective only when said lever is in the reverse position for locking said cage at the plant deck, a manually operable circuit controller, and means controlled by said circuit controller for energizing said electric lock it said cage is actually locked at the plant desk.

9. Controlling apparatus for collieries comprising a hoisting cage, decking mechanism for co-operating with said cage, tWo separate levers for controlling said mechanism at different times, means for preventing the operation of either lever when the other is operated, and an indicator controlled by said decking mechanism.

l0. Controlling apparatus for collieries comprising a hoisting cage, decking mechanism co-operating with said cage, a first lever for controlling said decking mechanism when the hoist is conveying material, a second lever for controlling a portion only of said decking mechanism when said hoist is conveying men, and a lock for preventing operation of either of said levers when the other is operated.

11. Controlling apparatus for col-lieries comprising a hoisting cage, a first lever and a second lever each having normal and reverse positions, locking mechanism operating when said first lever is in its reversed position to secure said cage at the plant deck, material handling mechanism arranged to occupy its operative position when said second. lever is in its reverse position and a tappet for preventing movement of either said levers "from its normal position unless the other lever is in its normal position.

12. Controlling apparatus "For collieries comprising a hoisting cage, a first lever and a second lever each having a normal and a reverse position and interlocked to prevent movement of either lever from its normal position unless the other lever is in its normal position, means effective when either lever is in its reverse position for locking the cage at the plant deck, material ha-n dling mechanism controlled by one only of said levers, and means effective only when both saidlevers are in their normal positions and when said material handling mechanism is in its inoperative position for releasing said cage locking means.

18. Controlling apparatus for collieries comprising a hoisting cage, a first lever and a second lever each having a normal and a reverse position and interlocked to prevent movement of either lever from lts normal position unless the other lever is in its nor mal position, means effective when either lever is in its reverse position for locking the cage at the plant deck, a manually operable push button, a signal controlled by said push button, and means for preventing operation of said push button unless said levers are both in their normal positions.

1 1-. Controlling apparatus for collieries coi'nprising a hoisting cage, a first lever and a second lever each having a normal and a reverse position and interlocked to prevent movement of either lever from its normal position unless the other lever is in its normal position, means effective when either lever is in its reverse position for locking the cage at the plant deck, a manually operable push button, a signal controlled by said push button, and means for preventing operation of said push button unless said cage locking means and said material handling mechanism are both in their ineffective positions.

15. Controlling apparatus for collieries comprising a hoisting cage, decking mechanism for co-operating with said cage, two separate levers for controlling said mechanism at different times, and means for preventing the operation 01 either lever when the other is operated.

In testimony whereof we aflix our signatures.

DONALD F. BRONN. FREDERICK J. RAYME it 

